José Bernal and María García-Nieto, appointed president and treasurer, respectively, of the Spanish association of Canonists.
The professors of the School of Canon Law of the University of Navarra will hold the position for the next four years.
27 | 05 | 2025
Professors José Bernal and María García-Nieto, of the School of Canon Law of the University of Navarra, have been appointed president and treasurer, respectively, of the Spanishassociation of Canon Lawyers (AEC). Both were elected during the association's annual conference , held in April.
Professor Bernal, until now treasurer of the association, explains that heading the ACS "means presiding over the tasks of promoting the study and knowledge of Canon Law and State Ecclesiastical Law, as well as offering advice on matters related to Church law. All of this is a commitment of service to the Church".
When asked what he hopes to contribute from this position, he said: "I would like to help show clearly the dimension of service and justice inherent in Canon Law. He recalls that without the protection of justice within the Church "it is not possible to build charity" and stresses that the association is at the service of all dioceses, ordinaries and ecclesiastical tribunals that require its financial aid.
For her part, María García-Nieto assumes the position of treasurer on the board of Directors. She says she sees it as "an honor and a responsibility", and adds: "as a university professor, I consider it an opportunity to contribute, learn and collaborate with canonists from very different fields".
He further states that he would like to contribute a realistic look at the new challenges of Canon Law, especially with regard to training, lay participation and synodality in the juridical life of the Church. "In my case," he adds, "I can bring an academic perspective and put it in dialogue with colleagues working in other fields of Canon Law.
The Spanish association of Canonists has more than 400 members, both national and international. Among them are university professors, judicial vicars, ecclesiastical judges, bishops, lawyers and other specialists in Canon Law and State Ecclesiastical Law.
